Hugh Durham sees a team playing with enthusiasm. Pat Kennedy sees a team playing exceptional defense. Charlie Ward sees a team playing smart. And Rodney Dobard sees a team playing well enough to advance to the Final Four.

All eyes are on the Florida State men’s basketball team that is on an historic upset run in the NCAA Tournament.

“They have come together and are playing well,” said Durham, the only coach in NCAA Division I history to lead two different schools – FSU and Georgia – to their lone NCAA Final Four appearances.

Durham, 80, also admitted he’s too nervous to watch the Seminoles.

While wife Melinda watched Thursday night’s win on television, Durham sat in the den of their south Jacksonville home and channel-surfed. He watched highlights of FSU's victory on ESPN and, naturally, wore his FSU sweatshirt to his 5 a.m. workout Friday.

"Enthusiasm will take you a long way if you have talent," said Durham, whose Seminoles fell 81-76 to John Wooden's UCLA Bruins in the 1972 title game.

"I don’t think anybody out there right now would look forward to saying, “I hope we get Florida State the next game.’ They are playing super.”

Under Kennedy, the Seminoles played in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 1991-93, advancing a step further each year.

They played in the round of 32 in 1991 (lost to Indiana), the Sweet 16 in 1992 (Indiana) and the Elite Eight in 1993 (Kentucky).

Kennedy has been impressed by the Seminoles' defense in the NCAA Tourney.

After allowing 75.7 points per game coming into the tournament, the Seminoles have held Missouri, Xavier and Gonzaga to an average of just 61.3 points.

Gonzaga made 33.9 percent of its shots and was held 24 points below its scoring average that ranked 10th nationally.

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Pat Kennedy(Photo: Democrat files)

"Gonzaga couldn’t start its offense, and I have never seen anybody do that Gonzaga," said Kennedy, who resides n Dorian, Connecticut, and is currently the senior adviser for a national basketball recruiting service for boys and girls.

"FSU's defense was exceptional. They've never played defense for 40 minutes the way they did against Gonzaga than I've ever seen."

With future NBA players Ward, Sam Cassell, Bob Sura and Doug Edwards - in addition to the 6-foot-9 Dobard - the Seminoles were more a perimeter team under Kennedy.

Hamilton's team has relied on length, athleticism, aggressive defense and bench that goes 10 deep.

"Every team is different and they are much longer than we were, they have bigger guys," said Ward, who on Monday was named the boys basketball coach at Florida High.

"We had guys who could really put it in the basket, legit scorers. FSU is playing with confidence and riding that momentum. They are playing smart basketball.

"They have put themselves in position to seize the moment."

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Charlie Ward, driving in a game against Duke, helped the Seminoles clinch the Metro Conference Tournament title in 1991.(Photo: Democrat files)

The Wildcats outrebounded the Seminoles 51-25 and limited FSU to one field goal over a nine-minute stretch in the second half.

"When you get to that game (Elite Eight), I wouldn't say it's pressure but it was like, 'Wow, okay, we are one win away from the Final Four," Dobard said from Delray Beach.

"Unfortunately, we didn't make it happen. But I think this team has a better chance making the Final Four. Personally, I don't see Michigan beating us. I didn't think Gonzaga could match our speed and defensive intensity."

FSU and Michigan have only played three times in history, with the Wolverines winning the last meeting, 82-80, in 2013.

Michigan enters on a 12-game win streak. Like FSU, it also has played strong defense in the tourney, allowing 60.7 points per game.

"When I look back at our group, the only thing those kids cared about was winning," Kennedy said.

"I saw that in the eyes of the Florida State kids last night (Thursday)."